Axe on cops for ‘fake’ raid

OUR CORRESPONDENT

Ranchi, June 13: Palamau district police today suspended two officers for injuring a villager during an encounter, even as agitated local residents imposed a bandh in the area to protest against police’s alleged atrocities.

Superintendent of police Y.S. Ramesh, apparently buckling under public pressure, ordered suspension of Panki thana OC Harsh Kumar Pathak and ASI Vinod Murmu, promising an impartial probe into the circumstances under which Doman Yadav was injured at Kasmar village last night.

According to sources, police arrested a PLFI sub-zonal commander, Amrit Yadav, from Panki last evening and seized a pistol and cartridges from him. During interrogation, the PLFI leader revealed that their zonal commander Baidyanath Yadav often took shelter at Doman’s house.

Acting on the information, the police formed a special team to raid Doman’s residence. However, PLFI rebels opened fire when they saw the police, who retaliated. The exchange of fires continued for some time, before the rebels fled taking advantage of the darkness.

According to police, Doman received bullet injuries on the outskirts of Kasmar while he was helping Baidyanath and his aides to escape.

The villagers, however, narrated a different version of the story. They alleged that the police locked Doman’s family members inside the house and dragged him away. Later, the police tried to kill him outside the village. Doman has been shifted to Apollo hospitals in Ranchi under serious condition.

Protesting against the incident, residents of Kasmar and nearby villages today forced closure of shops and blocked roads in Panki area, demanding immediate action against the police personnel involved in the “fake” encounter.

Speaking to The Telegraph over telephone, SP Ramesh said, “The case is being probed. If the accused are found guilty during investigations, they will be taken to task.”